Driving mechanism



J. B DYER DRIVING MECHANISM Original Filed June 29, 1940 j vw l I .1

April 11, 1944.

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DRIVING MECHAN'ISM Original Filed Jun 29, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTOR.

" I BY dag ,DY'EE.

April 11, 1944. J. B. DYER DRIVING MECHANISM Original Filed June 29, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 11, 1944 DRIVING MECHANISM John B. Dyer, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to General Dayton, Ohio, a corpora- Motors Corporation,

tion of Delaware @rlginal application June 29, 1940, Serial No. 343,206. Divided and this application June 16, 1943, Serial No. 491,032

17 Claims.

This invention relates to driving mechanisms and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a transmission for rotating a basket or the like and vertically reciprocating an agitator or the like.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 343,206, filed June 29, 1940, for Domestic appliance.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation of a washing machine embodying my invention, the view being partly diagrammatic;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the transmission mechanism for imparting rotation to the tub and reciprocation to the agitator;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cros -section taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the upper part of the machine; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

The driving mechanism, which is claimed in this application, may be used to drive any suitable device. For example, it may drive a washing machine having a rotatable tub I and an agitator H therein. An automatic counterbalancing device I2 may be attached to the machine below the tub II), which forms no part of the present invention, and includes a mass of counterbalancing liquid, such as water, mercury, or heavy oil or its derivatives, which is automati cally distributed in the machine during the pick-up of rotation so that the same automatically balances the unbalance created by any unequal distribution of clothes wthin the tub.

The counterbalancing device l2 includes a receptacle i3 and liquid pocket means l4 located above the receptacle it. The receptacle l3 and pocket means it are connected by proper liquid passageways IS in such a manner that the passageways l receive liquid from the receptacle l3 and distribute it to the pocket means l4 in such quantities that any unbalance in the machine tends to be correctly counterbalanced by the liquid, as more fully described and claimed in my said copending application.

The tub l0, and its driving mechanism It preferably are mounted on a. universal joint 11 to allow a slight movement about the joint ll as a fulcrum. The mechanism is maintained in a vertical position by the resilient rubber-like supports I8.

Air relief pipes i3a are provided to prevent trapping of air in the pocket means I 4. These pipes l3a extend from the floor of the pocket means Ila to a point l3b near the inner wall of the receptacle l3 and above the normal liquid level in receptacle l3. The position of these pipes is such that air relief is afforded the pocket means H; but liquid does not flow upwardly through them, because the terminal l3b is so located that such flow is prevented.

A. trough is placed around the centrifugal basket I 0 and is adapted to receive liquid discharged over the flange 4| of the basket.

The particular construction of the tub II], is of no particular importance, preferably is as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5. Thus the tub may include an outer cylindrical imperforate portion within which is nested an annular shell 46. The annular shell 46 is provided with a lower flange 41 provided with openings 48 and is also provided with openings 49 approximately along the middle. The total discharge capacity of the openings 48 preferably is more than that of the openings 49. The object of this construction is to remove the scum from the washing liquid before the same has been deposited on the clothes I9, 20 during the centrifugal action. The scum is removed automatically because, as the tub begins to rotate, the liquid takes the form of a vortex, with a large amount of liquid being dis charged through the openings 48 and flowing up through the passage 50 over the rim 4|. The scum tends to flow along the surface of this vortex down near the openings 43 where the scum is removed along with the liquid flowing through the openings 48.

The agitator H preferably is of the vertically reciprocated type, and includes the metal coneshaped portion Ho and the resilient, rubber-like flange lib along the lower periphery. 'Ihis agitator is reciprocated with short strokes of about one and one-half inches in length at about 450 R. P. M. to produce a toroidal action in the clothes and washing liquid while the tube i0 is stationary. This tends to distribute the clothes within the tub it) somewhat evenly in a ring. about the agitator H. However, this distribu tion obviously is not always exactly even, and

larger masses of clothes may be gathered along one side of the machine, as indicated at i9. After agitation has been completed, the agitator preferably is stopped, and the tub is rotated (along with the agitator H), to discharge the liquid and scum through the openings 48 and 49. During the pick-up of this rotation, the liquid in receptacle I3 is automatically distributed to the pockets l4, |4a as previously described, in a manner to effect a substantial counterbalance of the unequally distributed clothes I9, 20.

The driving mechanism for actuating the agitator and rotating the tub, which is the subject of the present invention, is disclosed in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, which is constructed as follows:

A transmission casing 50a, 5| is provided and is bolted together as shown. This casing contains a motor having rotor 52 and a stator 53. This motor is reversible. When rotated in one direction, it causes the agitator shaft 54 to reciprocate vertically. When the motor rotates in the other direction, it rotates the tub l0, along with the-agitator The agitator shaft 54 is vertically reciprocated by causing the motor to rotate the cage 55. This cage carries pulleys 56 which straddle a nonrotatable undulating track 51, which is fixed to the shaft 54. As the pulleys 58 rotate, they cause the track 51 to reciprocate vertically, and impart a reciprocating motion to the shaft 54 to which it is attached by means of the bolt 51a passing through the bearing 51b.

The cage 55 is rotated by means of planetary gears. The motor shaft 58 is fixed to the sun gear 59. The sun gear 59 drives a ring 60 carrying planetary gears 8|, which are meshed to the outer gear ring 82 carried by the cage 55. The planet ring 80 extends vertically inside a set of unidirectional clutches 63, such that, when the planet ring is urged in one direction, its rotation is stopped by the clutches 63; but is allowed to rotate when it is urged in the other direction. As a result, when, the motor shaft 58 rotates in one direction, the planet ring 68 is held stationary with the result that the gear 59 drives the gear 62 through the planet gears 6|, thus rotating the cage 55 at a less number of cycles per unit of time than the motor speed and causing vertical reciprocation of the agitator also at a less number of cycles per unit of time than the motor speed.

For the purpose of facilitating construction, the planet ring 80 rides about a bearing ring 64. The sun gear 59 is pressed on the shaft 58 and is secured thereto by the nut 65. The shaft 58 rides in bearing 68 carried by the casing 58a. The unidirectional clutches 63 are carried by a stationary ring 61 secured to the casing 50a.

Rotation of the tub I8 is accomplished by rotation of the motor in the opposite direction. Such rotation causes the clutch plate 10 to rise into engagement with the clutch face 1| and causes the combined clutch and brake plate 12 to be lifted. This disengages the brake band 13 from the stationary brake plate 14 and allows the plate 12 to rotate along with the rotating clutch plate 10. The plate 12 is keyed to the shaft 15, which in turn is keyed at 15a to the tub carrying shaft 16. The shaft 16 has a tub carrying plate 16a to which the tub is bolted by bolts lob along with the plate 36 and spacer ring 36a. The shaft 18 is carried by thrust ball bearings 16b.

The rotating plate 10 is lifted into engagement with the clutch band H by means of the spiral drive 11. The motor shaft 58 is provided with spiral slots 11 in which screws 18 extend. The screws 18 are carried by the vertical sleeve 19 which carries the clutch plate 10. As a result of this, when the motor shaft 58 is rotated in the proper direction, the plate 10 is lifted by the well-known spiral action into engagement with the clutch band 1| to rotate the tub I0 at the same speed as said motor. The plate 12 is urged downwardly by the spring 8| to insure a driving engagement between the plate 10 and band 1| and also to bring the brake band 13 into engagement with the plate 14 when the motor is stopped or reversed. The agitator shaft 54 is held in alignment at the upper end by bearing 540.. A flexible bellows 541), made of rubber or metal is secured to the shaft 54 and to the cone washer Illa which is held by the bolts lilb.

Proper lubrication is provided. To this end the casing 5| is provided with a lubricant cup 85, and lubricant is poured to the proper level. It flows through passages 86 into the space 81, from whence it is pumped through the valve 88 into the interior of the shaft 54 by the reciprocating action of shaft 54. This oil is pumped up to the oil hole 89 to provide proper lubrication between the shaft 54 and the shaft 15. The oil fiows down between these two shafts and may pass out through the oil hole 90 for further lubrication of the parts and may be discharged through the opening 92. Other portions of the oil stream may flow down to the opening 93 and lubricate the parts at this portion of the mechanism.

The shaft 54, and track 51, are held non-rotationally, when the tub is stationary, by the brake 13, since brake plate 12 is keyed to shaft 15, which in turn is keyed to bearing 51b which is bolted to shaft 54. Thus when the brake is applied to the tub, the shaft 54 and track 51 are held nonrotationally, to enable them to be vertically reciprocated by the wheels 56 when agitation is required.

The driving clutch 18, 1| can slip during the start of rotation, and this prevents an overload of the motor and further increases the length of rotation at slow speed.

When the tub starts to rotate, the washing liquid gradually rises along the outer side of the tub until it reaches the" flange 4|. At this time there is a pumping action from the liquid inside of tub 48 to the flange 4|. This pumping action has an increasing head to combat as the level of the washing liquid falls inside the tub 46. This pumping action also requires a substantial amount of power and this prevents the motor from accelerating the rotation of the tub for a considerable length of time. During this time, the counterbalancing liquid is properly distributed from the receptacle Hi to the pocket means l4.-

The extra load imposed on the motor to accelerate the tub and also to pump the liquid out of the tub, is compensated by the construction of the clutch 1|] and 1| which allows it to slip during this starting period and thus relieves the motor from too heavy a burden and at the same time further extends the period of rotation below the critical speed. This further insures proper distribution of the balancing liquid from receptacle l3 to pocket means I4.

From the foregoing it is evident that the ordinary characteristic of a centrifugal basket to sway with the unbalanced load below critical speed" cooperates with the delaying washing liquid pumping action and with the delaying slipu and the other being ping action of the clutch 10, H to insure proper distribution of the balancing liquid.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A driving mechanism comprising a reversible motor. a rotatable shaft, a reciprocable shaft, means for drivingly connecting said motor to said rotatable shaft when said motor rotates in one direction to rotate said rotatable shaft while preventing reciprocation of said reciprocable shaft, and means for drivingiy connecting said motor to said reciprocable shaft when said motor rotates in the opposite direction to reciprocate said reciprocable shaft while preventing rotation of said rotatable shaft.

2. A driving mechanism comprising a sleeve member and a shaft member coaxially arranged, one of said members being a rotatable member and the other being a reciprocable member, a reversible motor, means for drivingly connecting said motor to rotate one of said members when said motor rotates in one direction while preventing reciprocation of said reciprocable member. and means drivingly connecting said motor to reciprocate the other of said members when said motor rotates in the other direction while preventing rotation of said rotatable member.

3. A driving mechanism comprising a rotatable sleeve and a reciprocable shaft coaxially arranged, electrically controlled transmission means for rotatably driving said shaft together while preventing reciprocation of said reciprocableshaft, and electrically controlled transmission means for reciprocating said shaft while preventing rotation of said rotatable sleeve.

4. A driving mechanism comprising a sleeve member and a shaft member coaxially arranged, one of said members being a rotatable member a reciprocable member, electrically controlled transmission means for rotatably driving said rotatable member while preventing reciprocation of said reciprocable member, and electrically controlled transmission means for reciprocably driving said reciprocable member while preventing rotation of said rotatable member.

5. A driving mechanism comprising a transmission housing, a rotatable driven shaft extending from said housing, a reciprocable driven. shaft coaxial with said rotatable shaft and extending from said housing, power means within said housing, and electrically controlled transmission 'means. Within said housing between said power means and driven shafts selectively to rotate said rotatable driven shaft while preventing reciprocation of said reciprocable driven shaft and to reciprocate said reciprocable driven shaft while sleeve and reciprocable ible motor, a rotatable shaft, a reciprocable shaft, means for drivingly connecting said motor to said rotatable shaft when said motor rotates in one direction to rotate said rotatable shaft while preventing reciprocation of said reciprocable shaft, and means for drivingly connecting said motor to said reciprocable shaft when said motor rotates in the opposite direction to reciprocate said reciprocable shaft while preventingrotation of said rotatable shaft and including rotary-reciprocating mechanism for said reciprocable shaft and brake means for said rotatable shaft automatically rendered effective when said motor rotates in the last named direction.

8. A driving mechanism comprising a sleeve member and a shaft member coaxially arranged, one of said members being a rotatable member and the other being a, reciprocable member, electrically controlled transmission means for rotatably driving said rotatable member while preventing reciprocation of said reciprocable member. 'and electrically controlled transmission means for reciprocably driving said reciprocable member while preventing rotation of said rotatable member and including a rotatable cage having rotary-reciprocating transforming mechanism connected to said reciprocable member, clutch means connected to said rotatable member, and brake means connected to said rotatable member.

9. A driving mechanism comprising a sleeve member and a shaft member coaxially arranged. one of said members being a rotatable member preventing rotation of said rotatable driven shaft.

6. A driving mechanism comprising a reversible motor, a rotatable shaft, a reciprocable shaft, means for drivingly connecting said motor to said rotatable shaft when said motor rotates in one direction to rotate said rotatable shaft while preventing reciprocation of said reciprocable shaft and including a one-way clutch, and means for drivingly connecting said motor to said reciprocable shaft when said motor rotates in the opposite direction to reciprocate said reciprocable shaft while preventing rotation of said rotatable shaft.

7. A driving mechanism comprising a reversmember and the other being a reciprocable member, electrically controlled transmission means for rotatably driving said rotatable member while preventing reciprocation of said reciprocable memher and including clutch means for'said rotatable member rendered effective and brake means for said rotatable member rendered ineffective during the rotation of said rotatable member. and electrically controlled transmission means for reciprocably driving said reciprocable memher while preventing rotation of said rotatable and including rotary-reciprocation transforming mechanism connected with said reciprocable member rendered effective while said brake means is also rendered effective during reciprocation of said reciprocable member.

10. A driving mechanism comprising a transmission housing, a rotatable driven shaft extending from said housing: a reciprocable driven shaft coaxial with said rotatable shaft and extending from said housing, power means within said housing, and electrically controlled transmission means within said housing between said power means and driven shafts selectively to rotate said rotatable driven shaft while preventing reciprocation of said reciprocable driven 'shaft and to reciprocate said reciprocable driven shaft while preventing rotation of said rotatable driven shaft and including a combined brake and clutch plate rendered effective to clutch and ineffective to brake said rotatable driven shaft during rotation thereof and mm dered ineffective to clutch and effective to brake said rotatable driven shaft during reciprocation of said reciprocable driven shaft.

11. A driving mechanism comprising a transmission housing, a rotatable driven shaft ex tending from said housing, a reciprocable driven shaft coaxial with said rotatable shaft and extending from said housing, power means within said housing, and electrically controlled transmission means within said housing between said power means and driven shafts selectively to rotate said rotatable driven shaft while preventing reciprocation of said reciprocable driven shaft and to reciprocate said reciprocable driven shaft while preventing rotation of said rotatable driven shaft and including a rotatable cage carrying rotary-reciprocating transforming mechanism connected to said reciprocable driven shaft.

12. A driving mechanism comprising a transmission housing, a rotatable driven shaft extending from said housing, a reciprocable driven shaft coaxial with said rotatable shaft and extending from said housing, power means within said housing including a motor having a drive shaft coaxial with said driven shafts, and electrically controlled transmission means within said housing between said power means and driven shafts se lectively to rotate said rotatable driven shaft while preventing reciprocation of said reciprocable driven shaft and to reciprocate said reciprocable driven shaft while preventing rotation 'of said rotatable driven shaft.

13. A driving mechanism comprising a transmission housing, a rotatable driven shaft extending from said housing, a reciprocable driven shaft coaxial with said rotatable shaft and extending from said housing, power means within said housing including a motor having a drive shaft coaxial with said driven shafts, and electrically controlled transmission means within said housing between said power means and driven shafts selectively to rotate said rotatable driven shaft while preventing reciprocation of said reciprocable driven shaft and to reciprocate said reciprocable driven shaft while preventing rotation 'of said rotatable driven shaft and including a retatable cage coaxial with said motor and carrying rotary-reciprocating transforming mechanism connected to said reciprocable driven shaft.

14. A driving mechanism comprising a transmission housing, a rotatable driven shaft extending from said housing, a reciprocable driven shaft coaxial with said rotatable shaft and extending from said housing, power means within said housing including a reversible motor, and electrically controlled transmission means within said housing between said power means and driven shafts selectively to rotate said rotatable driven shaft while preventing reciprocation of said reciprocable driven shaft and to reciprocate said reciprocable driven shaft while preventing rotation of said rotatable driven shaft and including a combined brake and clutch plate rendered effective to clutch and ineffective to brake said rotatable driven shaft during rotation of said motor in one direction and rendered ineffective to clutch and effective to brake said rotatable driven shaft during rotation of said motor in the opposite direction.

15. A driving mechanism comprising a transmission housing, a rotatable driven shaft extending from said housing, a reciprocable driven shaft coaxial with said rotatable shaft and extending from said housing, power means within said housing including areversible motor, and electrically controlled transmission means within said housing between said power means and driven shafts selectively to rotate said rotatable driven shaft while preventing reciprocation of said reciprocable driven shaft and to reciprocate said reciprocable driven shaft while preventing rotation of said rotatable driven shaft and including a combined brake and clutch plate rendered effective to clutch and ineffective to brake said rotatable driven shaft during rotation of said motor in one direction and rendered ineffective to clutch and effective to brake said rotatable driven shaft during rotation of said motor in the opposite direction, and a rotatable cage carrying rotary-reciprocating transforming mechanism connected to said reciprocable driven shaft, said cage being rotated by a one-way clutch when said motor rotates in one direction and being held stationary when said motor rotates in the other direction.

16. A driving mechanism comprising a sleeve member and a shaft member coaxially arranged, one of said members being a rotatable member and the other being a reciprocable member, a motor, electrically controlled transmission means for rotatably driving said rotatable member from said motor at the same speed as said motor while preventing reciprocation of said reciprocable member, and electrically controlled transmission means for reciprocably driving said reciprocable member from said motor at a different number of cycles per unit of time than the speed of said motor while preventing rotation of said rotatable member.

17. A driving mechanism comprising a sleeve member and a shaft member coaxially arranged, one of said members being a rotatable member and the other being a reciprocable member, a motor, electrically controlled transmission means for rotatably driving said rotatable member from said motor at one ratio to motor speed while preventing reciprocation of said reciprocable member, and electrically controlled transmission means for reciprocably driving said reciprocable member from said motor at a different ratio to motor speed while preventing rotation of said rotatable member.

JOHN B. DYER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 25%,1553. April 11, 19th.

. JOHN B. DYER.

It is herebycertified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, first column, line 29, for "L -L of Fig. 2" read --66 of Fi 5--; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of June, A. D. 19%.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

